Delhi Police bust Paharganj spa prostitution racket, owner held; 4 women rescued
Synopsis
Delhi's Central District Police dismantled a spa-fronted prostitution racket in Paharganj on 1 July, arresting owner Ajay Malhotra after a decoy operation that recovered pre-recorded currency, a customer register, and other incriminating materials — while four women were rescued from the premises. Investigators are now probing whether the network extends beyond a single establishment.
Key Takeaways
Central District Police busted an alleged prostitution racket at SIN SPA, Panchkuian Road, Paharganj on 1 July 2026 .
Owner-cum-manager Ajay Malhotra, 39 , of Nabi Karim, Delhi, was arrested after a decoy operation using ₹2,000 in pre-recorded notes.
Four women — from Allahabad, Pratapgarh, and Delhi — were rescued from the premises.
Police recovered ₹3,400 in cash, a customer entry register, and seven unused condoms from the spa.
305/2026 was registered under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
Investigation is ongoing to identify other individuals allegedly connected to the trafficking network.
Central District Police on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, dismantled an alleged prostitution racket operating under the cover of a spa in Paharganj, New Delhi, arresting the owner-cum-manager and rescuing four women during a carefully planned decoy operation. The raid targeted SIN SPA, located on the second floor of Property No. 15, Panchkuian Road, and resulted in the registration of FIR No. 305/2026 at Police Station Paharganj.
How the Operation Was Conducted
Police Station Paharganj received specific intelligence on 30 June 2026 indicating that immoral trafficking activities were allegedly being carried out at the spa, with customers reportedly lured in and offered sexual services for money. Acting swiftly, senior officers constituted a dedicated raiding team that included Sub Inspector Pragati Soni, SI Kaikho Ashune, SI Sudheer Kumar, Constable Khushbu, Constable Ravi, Constable Mintu, Constable Sitaram, and other personnel.
A decoy customer was briefed and provided with pre-recorded currency notes worth ₹2,000. After entering the premises, the decoy was allegedly offered sexual services; the spa operator accepted advance payment and directed one of the women to accompany him to a room. On receiving a predetermined signal, the raiding team entered and apprehended the accused on the spot.
Who Was Arrested and What Was Recovered
The arrested accused has been identified as Ajay Malhotra, 39, a resident of Multani Dhanda, Nabi Karim, Delhi. Police said he was the owner-cum-manager of SIN SPA and was allegedly facilitating prostitution under the guise of spa services. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to managing the establishment and arranging paid sexual services for clients.
Items recovered from the premises include ₹3,400 in cash — including the ₹2,000 in pre-recorded decoy notes — a customer entry register, seven unused condoms (two recovered from Room No. 3), and other materials believed to be linked to the alleged illegal activities.
The Four Women Rescued
The four women found at the premises and rescued during the operation include a 40-year-old from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh; a 26-year-old from Dadar Bazar, Delhi; a 26-year-old from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh; and a 31-year-old from Nabi Karim, Delhi. Their identities have not been disclosed publicly.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
The case has been registered under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. Central District Police said investigation is ongoing to determine whether other individuals were involved in operating the alleged trafficking network. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a wider racket.
Point of View
Budget guesthouses, and unregulated wellness outlets — has long been flagged as a zone of vulnerability for trafficking, yet enforcement has been episodic rather than systematic. The recovery of a customer entry register suggests the operation had a documented clientele, raising questions about how long the racket ran undetected and whether demand-side accountability will be pursued. Charging only the operator under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, while the women are categorised as 'rescued', is legally correct but also underscores a structural gap: without robust rehabilitation pathways, rescue operations risk cycling the same individuals through repeated crises. The real test of this raid's impact is what happens after the FIR.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Paharganj spa raid on 1 July 2026?
Central District Police busted an alleged prostitution racket at SIN SPA on Panchkuian Road, Paharganj, arresting owner-cum-manager Ajay Malhotra, 39, and rescuing four women during a decoy operation. The raid followed specific intelligence received on 30 June 2026.
Who was arrested in the Paharganj spa prostitution case?
Ajay Malhotra, 39, a resident of Multani Dhanda, Nabi Karim, Delhi, was arrested. He was the owner-cum-manager of SIN SPA and allegedly admitted during interrogation to managing the spa and arranging paid sexual services for customers.
Under which laws has the case been registered?
FIR No. 305/2026 was registered at Police Station Paharganj under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, which deal with running a brothel, living off the earnings of prostitution, and procuring persons for prostitution.
Who are the four women rescued from the spa?
The four women include a 40-year-old from Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), a 26-year-old from Dadar Bazar (Delhi), a 26-year-old from Pratapgarh (Uttar Pradesh), and a 31-year-old from Nabi Karim (Delhi). Their identities have not been made public.
What evidence did police recover from SIN SPA?
Police recovered ₹3,400 in cash (including ₹2,000 in pre-recorded decoy notes), a customer entry register, seven unused condoms — two from Room No. 3 — and other materials allegedly linked to illegal activities at the premises.
